Sept. 6, 2011
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M31-11
MEDIA OPPORTUNITY SET FOR MARS ROVER ATLAS V BOOSTER; TOWER ROLLBACK TIME CHANGE FOR GRAIL DELTA II ROCKET
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Atlas V first stage booster that will help
send NASA's Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover to the Red Planet
later this year will be available for a media opportunity on
Wednesday, Sept. 7.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) booster is scheduled to be
transported to the Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41
on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the following day.
NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden is planning to attend the photo op,
as well as spokespeople from NASA and ULA who will be available to
answer questions.
To participate, previously accredited journalists should be at the
NASA Kennedy Space Center Press Site at 8:15 a.m. EDT for
transportation to the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center. Media will
be returned to the Press Site in time for the GRAIL mission science
briefing, which is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. GRAIL mission badges
for U.S. media will be honored for the Atlas media opportunity.
However, we are past the deadline for foreign national journalists to
apply for this particular photo op and GRAIL badges cannot be honored
for international media.
Also on Sept. 7, the time has changed for the photo opportunity of the
Delta II rocket mobile service tower rollback in preparation for the
launch of GRAIL. Media now should meet in the parking lot of Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station's Gate 1 Pass and Identification Building
for a 10:30 p.m. departure by government bus to the launch pad.
Updates for GRAIL's prelaunch activities will be provided on the
Kennedy media phone line starting Tuesday, Sept. 6. The telephone
number is 321-867-2525.
To learn more about NASA's Mars Science Lab mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/msl
To learn more about NASA's GRAIL mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/grail
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